Monday, September 2, 2013

Little Girl Twirl Coat.

Last week was ugly. I was crabby, tired, and completely unsociable, exhausted from dealing with some same old, same old - familiar but unwelcome - demons. I cancelled all my appointments, slept in, moved slow, and sewed what I want to. That part was fun.

We all have "stuff". It's a part of life. We can't avoid it although some stuff is better than other stuff and while I'm quite aware that we have to act as opposed to react and that we should choose our direction, walk our path, and all that other "self help" lingo, it's not always as easy as it sounds. Especially when it involves other people. Especially when the answer we want is not the answer we can have SO...for my part... I opted for...

... a week of wallowing. Between a few good cries and some major pity partying, I worked on several versions of the Simplicity 2745 little girl twirl coat. To balance. So it wasn't all ugly. I've been working with this pattern off and on for a few years and my versions have come so far from the original that I'm not sure if I should keep referencing the pattern or not... but it's terribly cute.

I see this pattern as a blank canvas. The fact that it won't fit me - or anyone I know - means there are no expectations. It's all pure fun. I can fill in the details in any way that appeals. It's great for stretching my creative clothing muscles and for using up left over and recycled fabrics.

This one is sewn from denim remnants left over from playing with the raglan sleeve blouse that I eventually finished and sent to my friend Caroline. I'd cut the front three times and the back twice so I unpicked the darts and evolved the sections.

The denim is combined with check scraps from the Marcy Pants and some hand painted cotton from my play date with Patti a few weeks back. There was just enough yardage for the front band, collar, and back detail.

I don't have a lot of experience creating hand painted fabrics and perhaps you don't need too much because once it was cut up and placed into a garment, the piece looked a whole lot more impressive than it did flat.

The buttons are a smoky green. Originally, I was aiming for lime but the lime ones just didn't look as good as these ones did so I made another coat... in lime... and black... with recycled fabric from the Lynn Mizono jacket that wasn't. Tomorrow.

Love, love, love the jacket. Here's to wallowing once in awhile. I think it's necessary but few of us take the time to do it. You need time to process everything that's going on or else you just keep repeating the same things over and over.

There's something really pushing about a TNT / blank canvas pattern and this one has the added bonus of not needing to fit or be suitable in any way. VERY fun.

I agree that processing is important or we end up repeating over and over except that I wish I could figure out an answer that works. Some issues take a long time to settle because the ideal solution is unattainable - as in not within our individual power to attain - and the answers that we could attain have their own - also overwhelming - negatives. There's no clear win-win.

First of all the coat is absolutely adorable and that second, glad you are back. I firmly believe that human emotions need an "airing" now and then. For most of us the coping process of life requires that we bite the tongue, push down the anger, absorb the anxieties of life. While this is necessary in real life it can also be devastating in the long view. During my worst times I have developed a coping mechanism that works well. I cry in the shower. I don't care to discuss my issues and this allows me the "soap in my eyes" excuse if anyone questions. Silly? perhaps. There are times, however, when it is all just too much and crawling into a black hole is a form of self protection. Recognizing the need to work it out is key. If your little coat is evidence of your process please accept my applause!

LOL - I'm not sure women in their 50s are capable of biting down, pushing down, or absorbing anymore. Most of the friends my age are experiencing similar emotions around being tired of dealing with this "crap" - whatever that may be.

Crying in the shower is a great solution. Any one that works is a great IMHO and not at all silly. Right now, I seem to be using escapism. We'll see how that goes. I'm definitely tired of coping and perhaps it's because - as you say - I've stuffed it down for too long because things are definitely coming out not at all except...

... for these little coats. They are pretty and very fun to do and keeping me sane. Thanks for the compliments.

Demon-wrestling is such an exhausting--but necessary--activity. It's oddly comforting to me to remember that despite all our differences we share the same few demons. I'm in awe of your ability to be so creative in the midst of "stuff". Elle

Thanks. There will - hopefully - be five coats to show this week. I'd hoped to do all of them last week but the 3rd one made a fuss and stalled things. I'm just fixing a mistake and will hopefully be done it today. The 4th is sitting on the work table.

It must have been demon-wrestling week last week, as I was doing the same. I had the good cry last Monday. They do help! The coat is so cute, I can imagine a little girl twirling and giggling with glee :-)

So glad you're back!! I even went back and re-read your last few blogs to see if I'd missed you saying you'd be gone. But nope. Concern was starting to set in. Happy you're back....this is the first blog I read every day, and my rythm was out of whack without you!

Hi Myrna! Like Mel and Sue, I kept thinking I'd missed a cue; perhaps you were just busy with family stuff, as I was. Regardless, nice to have you back! I enjoy reading your blog and so admire all the creative sewing you do! Love the coats...too bad they are so small and won't fit YOU! :) I am now second guessing that give-away pile of clothes, wondering what could be cut up for reuse!

No cue. I just ran out of energy. Thanks for the support. It's much appreciated. I'm glad you enjoy the blog... and the coats. It's okay that they don't fit. That's part of the fun - no expectations. Hmm... you could always mail that pile to me - VBG.

Myrna Giesbrecht

Welcome. I love to sew... and knit... and read... and talk... a lot... and I love learning especially about creativity and about life. Please feel free to comment. I love the conversation and if you need to, you can email me privately at myrna (at) myrnagiesbrecht (dot) com. If you're wondering what the header is all about, read this posting. Thanks for visiting. - Myrna

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